Adjustable golf club head

ABSTRACT

An adjustable gold club comprising a handle shaft, club head assembly and an elongated club head member movable within the club head but unable to be fully withdrawn therefrom. The handle shaft is connected to the club head member in the conventional hosel-type relationship. The club head and club head member possess corresponding splines, whereby when the splines are meshed the club head is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the club head member. Within the club head are holding structure, retaining components and adjustable elements connecting the club head member to the club head to provide limited axial movement of the member, while also allowing the club head to be angularly varied to the longitudinal axis of the member.

limited States Patent [72] lnventors Martyn L. Ageus 970 Easy 51., hisAngeles, Calif. 90042; Robert S. Wallace, 2706 S. Robertson Blvd., LosAngeles, Calif. 90034 [211 App]. No. 807,051 [22) Filed Mar. 13, 1969[45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [73] Assignee said Agens, by said Wallace[54] ADJUSTABLE GOLF CLUB HEAD 9 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 273/79, 273/80.] [51] int. CI A63b 53/06 [50] Field 01Search 273/79, 80.1, 81.2,168

[56] Referencs Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,219,417 3/1917 Vories273/79 1,429,569 9/1922 Craig 273/79 Primary Examiner-Richard C. PinkhamAssistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley AttorneyWhite, Haefliger & BachandABSTRACT: An adjustable gold club comprising a handle shaft, club headassembly and an elongated club head member movable within the club headbut unable to be fully withdrawn therefrom. The handle shaft isconnected to the club head member in the conventional hosel-typerelationship. The club head and club head member possess correspondingsplines, whereby when the splines are meshed the club head is preventedfrom rotating about the longitudinal axis of the club head member.Within the club head are holding structure, retaining components andadjustable elements connecting the club head member to the club head toprovide limited axial movement of the member, while also allowing theclub head to be angularly varied to the longitudinal axis of the member.

ADJUSTABLE GOLF CLUB HEAD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As the game ofgolf has developed over the years, a number of clubs have been developedto perform different functions, and these range from the woods to theiron, with the greatest number being in the group known as the iron.'Thereason for this variety becomes apparent when it is realized that a clubthat is used to drive the ball a great distance horizontally shouldprovide a relatively flat trajectory of the ball, and hence the clubface should make only a slight angle to the vertical. On the other hand,when it is desired to lift the ball out of a sand trap or otherobstacle, horizontal distance is relatively unimportant, but the needfor lifting the ball nearly vertically becomes most important.Consequently, a club for use under these conditions should be one thatmakes a much larger angle to the vertical, and it is not practical toattempt to use either of the clubs to perform the function of the other.Finally, when the ball is on the putting green, :1 club is used in whichthe face is substantially vertical, since a putter is intended to rollthe ball along the grass rather-than lift it for greater distance.

The variety of requirements has meant that a number of clubs have beendeveloped, and a golfer thus takes with him a golf bag carryingapproximately three woods and probably five or more irons.

In an effort to overcome the financial burden of purchasing this largernumber of clubs, as well as to overcome the physical burden of carryingthem, it has been proposed that a golfer provide himself with a singleclub whose head is adjustable so that the hitting face of the club maybe set to different angles, depending upon the particular use to whichthe clubis being put.

While it has been proposed to provide an adjustable or universal golfclub, the prior devices have been subject to a number of disadvantages.Thus, a number of golf clubs have been proposed making use of twoabutting, radially extending surfaces, each having radial grooves sothat the club head may be turned to the desired position, the groovedsurfaces engaged, and the surfaces held immovable with respect to eachother by means of a screw or suitable holding means.

Other inventors have used a friction adjustment. The basic difficultywith this form of adjustment is that regardless of how tightly themating surfaces are pressed together, the club head tends to change itsposition when it is actually used in the hitting of the ball.

A third form of construction uses a number of axially extending groovesto hold the head in the desired position. Some disadvantages of thisform of device are that the particular construction does not provide thedesired fineness of adjustment, and the grooves are not protectedagainst dirt and other foreign matter that may cause wear and clog thegrooves.

The present invention overcomes these prior difficulties by providing agolf club having an adjustable head that can be adjusted to any of theestablished and approved iron configurations, can be adjusted quicklyand easily, has all adjusting parts protected against foreign matter,and will retain the setting or adjustment until the player purposelyresets the head.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention comprises a golf club havinga single head that is manually adjustable, to any position from that ofa putter to a No. l 1 iron, with all of the approved intermediate ironconfigurations being provided. The head is mounted on a shaft andnormally held against axial movement, but can be axially moved from aplaying to a setting position. In the playing position, the head is heldagainst rotation by a pair of splinedmembers within the head, where theyare protected against dirt, etc., and when the head is moved to settingposition, these splines, still protected. are disengaged so that thehead may be rotated to the desired position and then returned to playingposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf clubas it appears in use, showing the relationship of the parts, and thesimilarity of the club to presently used clubs;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the lower end of the golf club,with a portion of the head broken away to show the interiorconstruction;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the portion of the club shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the club head taken at the line 44of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the club head taken on the line 5-5of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a-view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the club head in itssetting position;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view, partially broken away, showing therelationship of the various elements of the club head;

FIG. is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modifiedform having a lock to prevent the movement of the club head along thehead shaft;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view showing the operating member of thelocking mechanism in the locked position;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the locking mechanism, taken along theline 1010 ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 1 l is an elevational view, partially in section, similar to FIG. 8but showing the club head in setting position;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary end view of the club and head shaftillustrating the various locations and relative positions of the membersof the locking mechanism;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the locking members; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG, 2, showing analternate form of construction.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings,it will be seen that the golf club has a handle shaft 10 with a grip 11at its upper end and a club head assembly 12 at its lower end. Thehandle shaft 10 may be of any suitable construction, preference beinggiven to a tubular metal construction having the desired weight,stiffness and other characteristics desired and expected by players. Atits lower end, the handle shaft 10 fits into a hosel 13 that extendsupwardly at a suitable angle from the heel of the club head assembly 12.At its lower end, the hosel l3 terminates in a horizontally extendinghead shaft 14, best seen in FIG. 7.

Mounted on the head shaft 14 is a head member 15 having the generaloutline of a conventional club head, with a face 16 I intended to hitthe golf ball, the face customarily being provided with surface markingsor grooves of conventional form, all as generally indicated in FIGS. 1and 7.

As indicated in FIGS. 35, the face 16 is radially displaced from theaxis of the head shaft 14, and the back surface 17 of the club head 15,opposite the face 16, extends around the shaft 14 to enclose the latter.The lower edge of the face 16 is generally horizontal, spaced downwardlyfrom the axis of the head shaft 14, with the heel end of the surfacecurving upwardly to meet the hosel 13. The upper edge of the face 16extends from the hosel of the club, where the edge is adjacent the headshaft 14, generally upwardly toward the toe of the club. The resultingoutline is seen in FIG. 2.

Extending the length of the head 15 is a bore 20 which receives the headshaft 14. For approximately half of its length from the hosel 13 towardthe toe, the bore 20 makes a sliding fit with the head shaft 14, andnear the toe of the club head, the diameter of the bore is enlarged, asshown at 21, to receive locking and holding members as hereinafterdescribed. Between the bore 20 and the enlarged portion 21 is a femalespline 25, hereinafter described.

Near the heel of the head 15, the back surface 17 of the head isprovided with gradations or markings 22 that cooperate with an arrow andindex line 23 on the neck of the hosel 13, extending into the head shaft14, to indicate the par ticular setting of the head 15. Thus, as thehead is rotated about the head shaft 14, the face 16 may assume anyposition from that of a putter, as indicated in solid outline in FIG. 3,to that of a sand wedge or No. 11 iron, as indicated in broken outlinein FIG. 3.

As previously indicated, splines in the head 15 and on the head shaft 14retain the head in the desired position. As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7,the end of the head shaft 14 nearest the toe of the head 15 is providedwith a male spline portion 24 extending completely around thecircumference of the end portion. The male spline portion 24 of the headshaft 14 cooperates with a female spline 25 that, as shown inhereinafter described forms, may be formed integral with the head 15,or, as shown in FIGS. 2-7, may be formed as a sleeve anchored in thespace between the bore and the enlarged bore 21, and held againstrotation by a key 26.

With this construction, when the club head 15 is moved along the headshaft 14 away from the hosel 13,, the female spline in the head slidesfree and disengages from the splined portion 24 on the shaft, so thatthe head 15 may be rotated to any desired club position, as indicated bythe markings 22 and index 23. When the desired club position has beenachieved, the head 15 is then moved back toward the hosel 13 and thesplines then hold the head against rotation.

It should be noted that the angular difference between the positions ofthe face 16 for consecutively numbered settings is only four degrees.This allows the loft of each setting to conform accurately to the loftof each club of a complete set of irons. It also means that in order forthe club head 15 to assume each of the different numbered positions,there must be a total of 90 splines, located four degrees apart, aroundthe circumference of the male splined portion 24 of the head shaft 14.The female spline 25 must be provided with a similar number of similarlyspaced splines.

To urge the female spline 25 into engagement with the male splinedportion 24 of the head shaft 14 while permitting the limited axialmovement necessary to adjust the angular position of the club head, aspring is provided. As best seen in FIG. 2, the spring 30 is preferablya helical compression spring fitting within the enlarged portion 21 ofthe bore 20, with one end bearing against the female spline 25 and theother end bearing against the head 31 of a retainer member 32 having thegeneral appearance of a screw. Thus, as seen in FIG. 2, from the head 31a shank 33 extends to a screw-threaded portion 34 of reduceddiameterthat fits into a correspondingly threaded hole 35 in the splinedend of the head shaft 14. Suitable means, such as an adhesive, orcement, or a lock washer 36 prevent the retaining member 32 from workingloose. A disc or button 37 closes the end of the enlarged portion 21 0fthe bore 20 to keep out dirt and to provide a finished appearance to theclub.

It will thus be apparent that when the club head 15 is in its normal orplaying position, shown in FIG. 2, the spring 30 presses against thefemale spline 25 to urge the head 15 toward the hose] 13, keeping thefemale spline engaged with the male shaft spline 24 so that the angularposition of the head cannot be inadvertently changed. When the head 15is to be readjusted to a different setting, the club head is graspedwith one hand while the other holds the hosel 13. Pulling the handsapart until the spring is fully compressed moves the club head 15 to thesetting position shown in FIG. 6, which disengages the splines andallows the head to be rotated to the desired position, as shown by themarkings 22 and index 23. The spring then retracts the head to theplaying position. While it is extremely unlikely, if the spring 30should break, the head 31 of the holding member 32 would prevent theclub head 15 from flying off the head shaft 14.

It will be appreciated that the forces acting on the club head 12 at thetime of impact with the golf ball are considerable. Thus, in addition tothe force produced by the impact of the golf club head 12 with the golfball, there is also the centrifugal force developed by the swinging ofthe head about a center of rotation approximately 5 feet away. It isthus very important that the splined members 24 and 25 be firmly incontact with each other, thus insuring the maintenance of the head 12 inits proper position and the prevention of excessive loading on thesplines if they are not completely engaged.

Because of the centrifugal forces involved, it is necessary that thespring 30 be relatively stiff. This presents no problem for most men whoexercise regularly, but it has been found that some women do not havesufficient strength to be able to slide a club head 12 along the headshaft 14 and then rotate the head to the desired setting. While it mightbe assumed that such a person would not swing the club with as greatvigor, it has been found that a spring sufficiently stiff to preventmovement of the club head on the head shaft 14 is too stiff a spring forsuch people to be able to compress with comfort. To overcome theseproblems, the modification shown in FIGS. 8 through 13 has beendeveloped. In this form, all of the elements are substantially identicalto the corresponding elements previously described, with the exceptionof the retainer member 32.

In the modified form shown, a locking means indicated generally by thenumeral 50 engages a retaining member 42 comparable to the previouslydescribed retaining member 32. The member 50 is mounted in the club head15 and normally engages the retaining member 42, as indicated in FIG. 8,to prevent the movement of the head along the head shaft 14. However,when it is desired to reset the angular position of the club head 15,the locking member 50 may be disengaged from the retainer member 42 andthe club head moved outwardly along the club head shaft, as indicated inFIG. 117

As seen in FIGS. 8 and 11, the retainer member 42 has a generallyscrew-shaped appearance with a head 41, a shank 43, and a threaded end44 that fits into a correspondingly threaded hole 35 in the splined endof the head shaft 14. The end of the shank 43 is suitably held in thehole 35 in a manner that prevents the retainer member 42 from workingloose, all as in the previously described form.

As in the previously described form, the spring 30 has one end bearingagainst the female spline 25, and the other end bears against the head41 of the retainer member 42. The head 41 fits withing the enlargedportion 21 of the bore 20, and the outer face of the retainer head,remote from the heel of the club, is spaced from the end of the clubhead 15 so that the retainer member 42 is at all times completely withinthe head 15 and spaced from the end of it.

As is best seen in FIG. 10, the outer end of the retainer head 41 isprovided with a centrally located undercut recess 51 having a centralopening 52 that is concentric with the head 41 and smaller than theinner opening 53, thereby providing a shoulder 54, The head 12 is heldin adjusted position by a flange 55 of the locking member 50 thatengages the shoulder 54.

As seen in FIGS. 10 and 13, the locking member 50 includes a circulardisc 56 that is pressed into the end of the bore 20, thus anchoring thelocking means 50. Mounted on the disc 56 is a latching member 57 havinga generally cylindrical body 58 that bears against a spring washer 65that in turn bears against the inner surface of the disc 56, with acylindrical projection 60 extending through a slot 61 in the disc 56.The cylinder 60 is provided with a concentric threaded bore 62, and ascrew 63 extends through a washer 64 and into the bore 62 to hold thelatching member firmly but slidably against the disc 56.

Spaced from the body 58 on the side away from the disc 56 is the flange55, held to the body by a cylindrical member 66. The latching member 57thus consists of the body 58, the concentric cylindrical members 60 and66 extending from opposite sides of the body member, the concentricscrew 63 holding the concentric washers 64 and 65 against the disc 56.

It will be noted that the slot 61 is elongated, and is so shaped andpositioned that when the latching member 57 is concentric with the disc56, the cylindrical body 60 bears against the inner end of the slot 61.The other end of the slot 61 is so located that when the latching member57 is displaced radially, the flange 55 extends to the outer edge of herecess 53,

engaging the shoulder 54 of the head 41 of the retainer member 42. Theslot 61 is shaped to permit this sliding motion of the latch member 57,and to restrict the motion to the radial movement described.

The latching member 57 is thus movable between a central, releasedposition and a radially displaced position where the flange 55 engagesthe head 41 of the retainer member 42. When the retainer member is soengaged by the flange 55 of the locking member 50, the head 12 cannot bemoved along the head shaft 14 to disengage the splined members 24 and25. Consequently, a very light spring 30 may be used, and consequentlyladies and others with insufficient strength to move a heavier springare able to make the necessary adjustment of the club head.

With the form shown in FIGS. 8-13, it will be recognized that the spring30 is a convenience but not a necessity, since the locking means 50 isthe device which holds the head assembly 12 in playing position.Consequently, the spring 30 may be very light or entirely eliminated. Infact, any time a positive locking means is provided, the spring may beomitted, and one such formof construction is shown in FIG. 14.

The alternate form shown in that figure makesuse of elements heretoforedescribed including the hosel 13, head shaft 14, head 15 with its faces16 and 17, bore 20, enlarged bore 21, and female spline 25, here shownas having been broached in an integral portion of the head. The end ofthe head shaft 14 projects from the end of the head shaft, all aspreviously described. However, the spring is omitted, and to hold thehead 15 in playing position, a captive screw 70 passes through a washer71 pressed into the end of the enlarged bore 21, and threadedly engagesthe retainer member 42. The washer 71 closes the end of the bore 21,protecting'the splines 24 and 25 against dirt, and may be of such amaterial and thickness to provide the proper weight and balance for theclub. The captive screw 70 may be held in the washer 71 by any suitablemeans, such as a retainer ring 72 which permits freedom of rotation ofthe screw and limited axial movement. The end of the screw 70 fits intoa threaded hole 23 in the retainer member 42, and the head 15 can beheld firmly in playing position by tightening the screw. The head of thescrew 70 may be of any suitable shape, such as round, oval, flat, etc.,but generally flat or oval is preferred. Likewise, the screw may beengaged by any suitable tool, such as a screwdriver or polygonal rod,and of these, a key formed of hexagonal rod is preferred.

It will become apparent that all of the various elements going to makeup the improved golf club can be quickly and easily assembled, new partsmay be installed, if needed, and the movement of the head 15 on theshaft 14 is both easy and positive. It will be appreciated that theconstruction of the improved club is such as to protect all of theprecision formed parts, particularly the splines formed on the end ofthe head shaft 14 and the interior of the head 25, from grit and dirt.The use of splines insures that the club head will not change itsposition when the ball is hit, as has been the case in those club headsrelying on a frictional engagement, and the use of the splines in theform shown provides a complete range of club head settings, a featurenot possible with the radially fluted surfaces or similar means.

in addition to these advantages, the improved adjustable I golf club hasthe advantage of looking substantially like a conventional golf club,and its weight can be distributed to provide a normal feel" to the club.

While various forms of the invention have been shown and described, thepatent is not to be restrictedto the particular form or arrangement ofparts herein described and shown, except as limited by the followingclaims.

We claim;

1. An adjustable golf club having a handle shaft and a club headassembly which includes:

a generally horizontal head shaft;

' is provided with a male spline 24, and a retainer member 42 a clubhead member mounted on said head shaft for axial and rotational movementwith respect thereto the head member having bore structure into whichsaid shaft is received from one end of the said member;

spline means within said member interconnecting said club head memberand said head shaft to prevent rotation therebetween, said spline meansbeing disengageable by axially bodily moving said club head member withrespect to said head shaft, whereby said member may be rotated withrespect to said shaft;

holding means maintaining said club head member in such a position withrespect to said head shaft as to engage said spline means,

said holding means including a retainer member having a stem and aflange at opposite ends thereof, the stem having threaded connectionwith the shaft terminal within said bore so that the flange is receivedinwardly of the bore structure at the opposite end of said member, saidretainer member acting to prevent the axial removal of said club headfrom said head shaft, and

adjustable means having interconnection with said flange and manuallyadjustable to have a first position in which said axial movement of theclub head member is blocked, and a second position in which said axialmovement of the head member is unblocked.

2. A golf club as defined in claim 1 in which said spline means includesan external spline on the head shaft terminal, and an internal splinedefined by said bore structure in spaced relation to said retainermember flange.

3. A golf club as defined in claim 1, having a hosel formed as acontinuation of said head shaft adapted to receive said handle shaft.

4. A golf club as defined in claim 1, including a helical spring locatedwithin said bore structure, between a shoulder defined by said club headmember and said flange.

5. The golf club as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjustable meanscomprises a disc fitting within the member bore structure at saidopposite end of the member, said disc defining a laterally elongatedslot, a part projecting through said slot and a latch on said partmovable into'and out of latching relation with said retainer member headin response to lateral displacement ofsaid part in said slot.

6. The golf club of claim 5 wherein said part has a button thereon atthe outer side of said disc for manual deflection, laterally, and saidretainer member flange has an undercut recess to interfit said latch.

7. An adjustable golf club having a handle shaft and a club headassembly which includes:

a hosel adapted to receive the lower end of said handle shaft;

a generally horizontal head shaft formed at an angle to said hosel andas an integral continuation thereof;

a club head member mounted on said head shaft for axial and rotationalmovement with respect thereto;

first spline means on the toe end of said head shaft;

second spline means defined within said club head member and by saidbore structure, adapted to engage said first spline means to hold saidclub head member against rotation with respect to said head shaft, saidfirst and second spline means being disengageable by axial bodilymovement of said club head member with respect to said head shaft;

holding means maintaining said club head member in such a position withrespect to said head shaft as to engage said spline means;

said holding means including a retainer member having a stem and aflange at opposite ends thereof, the stem having threaded connectionwith the shaft terminal within said bore so that the flange is receivedinwardly of the bore structure at the opposite end of said member, saidretainer member acting to prevent the axial removal of said club headfrom said head shaft, and

said retaining member.

9. A golf club as defined in claim 7, in which said holding meanscomprises a helical spring bearing against means connected to said clubhead and against means connected to said head shaft, to urge the clubhead toward said hose], said spring being completely within said clubhead member.

1. An adjustable golf club having a handle shaft and a club headassembly which includes: a generally horizontal head shaft; a club headmember mounted on said head shaft for axial and rotational movement withrespect thereto the head member having bore structure into which saidshaft is received from one end of the said member; spline means withinsaid member interconnecting said club head member and said head shaft toprevent rotation therebetween, said spline means being disengageable byaxially bodily moving said club head member with respect to said headshaft, whereby said member may be rotated with respect to said shaft;holding means maintaining said club head member in such a position withrespect to said head shaft as to engage said spline means, said holdingmeans including a retainer member having a stem and a flange at oppositeends thereof, the stem having threaded connection with the shaftterminal within said bore so that the flange is received inwardly of thebore structure at the opposite end of said member, said retainer memberacting to prevent the axial removal of said club head from said headshaft, and adjustable means having interconnection with said flange andmanually adjustable to have a first position in which said axialmovement of the club head member is blocked, and a second position inwhich said axial movement of the head member is unblocked.
 2. A golfclub as defined in claim 1 in which said spline means includes anexternal spline on the head shaft terminal, and an internal splinedefined by said bore structure in spaced relation to said retainermember flange.
 3. A golf club as defined in claim 1, having a hoselformed as a continuation of said head shaft adapted to receive saidhandle shaft.
 4. A golf club as defined in claim 1, including a helicalspring located within said bore structure, between a shoulder defined bysaid club head member and said flange.
 5. The golf club as recited inclaim 1 wherein said Adjustable means comprises a disc fitting withinthe member bore structure at said opposite end of the member, said discdefining a laterally elongated slot, a part projecting through said slotand a latch on said part movable into and out of latching relation withsaid retainer member head in response to lateral displacement of saidpart in said slot.
 6. The golf club of claim 5 wherein said part has abutton thereon at the outer side of said disc for manual deflection,laterally, and said retainer member flange has an undercut recess tointerfit said latch.
 7. An adjustable golf club having a handle shaftand a club head assembly which includes: a hosel adapted to receive thelower end of said handle shaft; a generally horizontal head shaft formedat an angle to said hosel and as an integral continuation thereof; aclub head member mounted on said head shaft for axial and rotationalmovement with respect thereto; first spline means on the toe end of saidhead shaft; second spline means defined within said club head member andby said bore structure, adapted to engage said first spline means tohold said club head member against rotation with respect to said headshaft, said first and second spline means being disengageable by axialbodily movement of said club head member with respect to said headshaft; holding means maintaining said club head member in such aposition with respect to said head shaft as to engage said spline means;said holding means including a retainer member having a stem and aflange at opposite ends thereof, the stem having threaded connectionwith the shaft terminal within said bore so that the flange is receivedinwardly of the bore structure at the opposite end of said member, saidretainer member acting to prevent the axial removal of said club headfrom said head shaft, and adjustable means having interconnection withsaid flange and manually adjustable to have a first position in whichsaid axial movement of the club head member is blocked, and a secondposition in which said axial movement of the head member is unblocked.8. A golf club as defined in claim 7, in which said holding meanscomprises engaging means mounted in said club head and operable toreleasably engage a cooperating means on said retaining member.
 9. Agolf club as defined in claim 7, in which said holding means comprises ahelical spring bearing against means connected to said club head andagainst means connected to said head shaft, to urge the club head towardsaid hosel, said spring being completely within said club head member.